The newly-rehabilitated Alotau town market and fisheries facilities was opened on November 19th by Ambassador of Japan to PNG, Satoshi Nakajima.
The project was funded by a Japanese government grant of approximately K33 million.
The newly completed market is very spacious with more than 2,800m² of total floor space and is equipped with a wharf, an ice station, toilets and so on. This project is part of Japan’s efforts to support the development of fisheries in PNG. Similar projects have been undertaken in Madang and Wewak in the past.
Speaking at the opening, Nakajima said: “I believe that this project is very timely because the rehabilitation of the market is long overdue as it was constructed in 1969 – 50 years ago.
“One of the most important factors in this new market is to promote the empowerment of women because there will be more women than men who will be selling products here.
“We are happy that women vendors will be able to work in much improved sanitary conditions at the market.”
Australia and UN Women will be coming on board with this project.
Australia has provided a generous fund with which UN Women will provide technical assistance to improve the management of the market as well as to strengthen the capacity of women in doing business at the market.
This component of the project aims to practically empower women who will be the main users of the market facilities.
Dignitaries who witnessed the occasion included Member for Alotau Open, Charles Abel, Managing Director of NFA, John Kasu and the representative of JICA PNG Office, Takashi Toyama.